Introduction

The western honeybee, or European honeybee’s scientific name is Apis mellifera. It is one of the most common species of honeybee worldwide. The word mellifera means “honey-bearing” and refers to the species tendency to produce a large quantity of honey for storage over the winter. Like all honey bees, the Apis mellifera is eusocial, which means it, creates colonies with a single fertile female (or “queen”) and many sterile females or “workers”, and a small proportion of fertile males, or “drones”. Individual colonies can house tens of thousands of bees and colony activities are organized by complex communication between individuals through both odours and the dance language. The western honeybee was one of the first domesticated insects and is the primary species maintained by beekeepers to this day for both its honey and pollination services. Due to its wide cultivation, this species is the single most important pollinator for agriculture globally.

---

How it looks

A hazy, pale gold with a short off-white head that diminishes gradually leaving some patchy lacing.

How it smells

The nose on this beer is of stone fruit and lemon and moves into grainy, toasty malt with nice notes of honey, lactic sour, dry hay funk and some light touches of white pepper.

How it tastes

On the palate, this beer is sweet like mead with a touch of orange zest. The sour is extremely light with only gentle tartness showing. The honey settles nicely on the palate with some floral and herbal hop qualities. This medium-bodied beer is complete with a long honey finish.

Recommended food pairing

Pair this beer with a lovely cheese tray to impress your guest, or yourself. Creamy cheeses and bee pollen pair nicely with the stone fruit and lemon flavours of this beer while the lactic sour cuts the creaminess.

Le Trou du Diable Mellifera Tasting Card